Lottery-type gaming system for simulating an actual casino game

ABSTRACT

A lottery-type gaming system simulating a traditional casino game, and a method of using same. Traditional casino card games, wherein winning hands are determined by combining specific, unshared playing cards dealt to individual players, with community cards shared among a plurality of such players, are simulated in the environment of a pull tab, scratch off or other type of player card or ticket lottery-type game. Traditional casino games other than card games, such as slot machines, are also simulated. The gaming system includes a plurality of player cards or tickets and one or more master game cards. Each of the player cards or tickets includes at least one player game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game. At least one of the master game cards includes at least one community game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to gaming systems, and, more particularly, to a lottery-type gaming system simulating a conventional casino playing card game.

2. Background and the Prior Art

Lottery-type games of chance have exhibited enduring popularity, since such games typically permit a player to make a relatively small “investment” with a chance of winning a significantly larger award. In addition to the entertainment value that such games provide for the players, these types of games typically provide a source of revenue for the operator, be it a municipality, charity, or business establishment.

Another form of game that has exhibited enduring popularity are casino playing card games, and more particularly, casino playing card games in which a winning hand, such as a poker hand, is determined by selecting a subset of the combination of the cards held by an individual player, taken together with community cards shared among a plurality of such individual players, into an overall hand in accordance with the rules of the particular card game being played. Although such card games are commonly referred to as casino card games, they are often played in settings other than casinos.

One of the most popular of such casino card games which include community, or shared cards is a form of poker known as Texas Hold 'Em. Indeed, Texas Hold 'Em has grown so popular in recent years that tournaments for this game are televised, as are games wherein various celebrities are among the players.

According to the rules of Texas Hold 'Em poker, each player is dealt two playing cards from a deck of cards, face down. These two cards, sometimes called “hole” cards, are collectively known as the “hold.” A round of betting typically occurs at this time, in addition to a traditional “ante” by each player prior to the start of the game. Next, a total of five shared, or community cards are dealt face up proximate the center of the table, in three community segments. Each community segment is traditionally associated with an additional round of betting. In the first community segment that is dealt, known as the “flop,” three community cards are dealt face up. Another round of betting among the players then typically occurs. Next, within the second community segment that is dealt, referred to as the “turn,” a single community playing card is dealt face up. A final round of betting traditionally occurs before the last community card is dealt. Finally, in the last community segment that is dealt, called the “river,” a final shared community playing card is dealt face up. Each player is then given the opportunity to construct the best five-card poker hand possible, by selecting any five cards from the group of seven cards created by the combination of the five community cards contained within the flop, turn, and river segments, taken together with the two hold cards dealt to the player.

The present invention enhances the player's enjoyment, as compared to many traditional lottery-type games of chance, by providing a lottery-type game of chance which simulates the play of such traditional casino poker card games, wherein a winning hand is determined by combining the best cards from among a collection of those dealt to an individual player, with community cards, shared among multiple players participating in the overall hand.

Another object of the present invention is to enable the simulated play of a hand of poker, typically limited to three to six players in the conventional game, in a simulated game enabling hundreds or thousands of potential players to participate in a single hand.

Yet another object of the present invention is to enable the simulated play of a hand of poker, wherein repeated, expensive betting rounds are not required.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, drawings, and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a lottery-type gaming system simulating a conventional casino game having predetermined rules of play. A plurality of player cards are provided, wherein each of the player cards including at least one player game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game. One or more master game cards are provided for use in conjunction with the plurality of playing cards. At least one of the master game cards includes at least one community game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game. The player card having the best combination of at least one of its player game symbols when taken together with at least one of the community game symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino game, is determined to be a winning player card.

In one preferred embodiment, the conventional casino game comprises a conventional casino card game wherein a winning hand is determined by combining a value of at least one hold card dealt to an individual player with a value of at least one community card shared among a plurality of such individual players. In this embodiment, at least one of the player game symbols comprises a hold card symbol indicative of a hold card in the conventional casino card game. At least one of the community card symbols comprises a community card symbol indicative of a community card in the conventional casino card game. The player card having the best combination of at least one of its hold card symbols, forming a complete game hand when taken together with at least one of the community card symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino card game, is determined to be a winning player card.

The one or more master game cards may include a plurality of community card symbols, with each of the community card symbols being a unique symbol, relative to the other community card symbols.

Moreover. the one or more master game cards may further include a plurality of community playing areas, with each community playing area being associated with at least one community card symbol and being associated with a round of play in the conventional casino card game. At least one of the community playing areas may be associated with a plurality of community card symbols.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of community playing areas includes a flop playing area, a turn playing area, and a river playing area, in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino game.

In one such preferred embodiment, the player card includes two hold card symbols, the flop playing area is associated with three community card symbols, the turn playing area is associated with one community card symbol, the river playing area is associated with one community card symbol, and the simulated conventional casino card game is Texas Hold'em.

In another such preferred embodiment, the player card includes four hold card symbols, the flop playing area is associated with three community card symbols, the turn playing area is associated with one community card symbol, the river playing area is associated with one community card symbol, and the simulated conventional casino card game is Omaha Hold'em.

In yet another such preferred embodiment, the playing card includes three hold card symbols, the plurality of community playing areas comprises four community playing areas, each associated with one different community card symbol, and the simulated conventional casino card game is Seven Card Stud.

In yet another such preferred embodiment, the simulated conventional casino game is a slot machine. The simulated slot machine may, for example, be a three reel slot machine. In this embodiment, the at least one player game symbol comprises a slot machine symbol, and the at least one community game symbol comprises two slot machine symbols.

At least one of the one or more master game cards may include at least one concealment structure initially concealing at least one associated community game symbol. The concealment structure may include a repositionable flap-like member, initially concealing at least one associated game symbol.

In a preferred embodiment, the player card comprises a first ply of material operably attached to a second ply of material, the concealment structure comprises at least one frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material; and at least one game symbol is revealed when the frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material is removed. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, two game symbols are revealed when one or more frangibly removable portions of the second ply of material is/are removed.

In another preferred embodiment, the concealment structure comprises at least one frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material, and at least one game symbol is revealed when the frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material is moved from a first, concealing position to a second, revealing position. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, two game symbols are revealed when one or more frangibly movable portions of the second ply of material is/are moved from the concealing position to the revealing position.

At least one of the one or more master game cards further may include indicia indicative of a game symbol on the winning player card to facilitate verifying the identity of the winning player card. Moreover, at least one of the one or more master game cards further may include at least one concealment structure initially concealing the indicia indicative of the game symbol on the winning player card. The concealment structure may include a repositionable flap-like member. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the one or more master game cards comprises a single master game card. At least one instant winning game card may also be provided.

The present invention also comprises a method of simulating a conventional casino game having predetermined rules of play. A plurality of player cards are provided. Each of the player cards including at least one player game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino card game. One or more master game cards are provided for use in conjunction with the plurality of player cards, at least one master game card including at least one community game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game. At least a portion of the player cards are distributed to a plurality of individual players. The distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its player game symbols when taken together with at least one of the community game symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino game to be a winning playing card is determined.

In a preferred embodiment, the conventional casino game comprises a conventional casino card game wherein a winning hand is determined by combining a value of at least one hold card dealt to an individual player with at least one community card shared among a plurality of such individual players. At least one of the player game symbols comprises a hold card symbol indicative of a hold card in the conventional casino card game. At least one of the community game symbols comprises a community card symbol indicative of a community card in the conventional casino card game. In this preferred embodiment, the distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its hold card symbols, forming a complete game hand when taken together with at least one of the community card symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino card game, to be a winning playing card is determined.

Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the one or more master game cards includes at least two community card symbols indicative of community cards in the conventional casino game, at least two community playing areas, each of the community playing areas being associated with at least one community card symbol and being associated with a round of play in the conventional casino game, and at least one concealment structure associated with at least one community playing area and initially concealing the community card symbols associated therewith. The step of determining is preceded by the step of sequentially revealing the community card symbols of each community playing area in an order specified by the rules of the play of the conventional casino card game. Moreover, the step of determining comprises the step of determining the distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its hold card symbols, forming a complete game hand when taken together with at least one of the community card symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino card game, to be a winning playing card.

In one preferred embodiment, the step of distributing at least a portion of the player cards comprises distributing only a portion of the player cards. In another preferred embodiment, the step of distributing at least a portion of the player cards comprises distributing all of the player cards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a top plan view of the tab side of a pull tab player card or ticket, showing, in particular, the frangibly removable and frangibly repositionable pull tab in its initial concealing position;

FIG. 2 of the drawings is a top plan view of the tab side of a player card/ticket, showing, in particular, the repositioning of a pull tab to reveal player game symbols, or hold card symbols underneath;

FIG. 3 of the drawings is a top plan view of the tab side of another player card/ticket, showing, in particular, the repositioning of a pull tab to reveal two different hold card symbols, these player game symbols corresponding to the winning hole card combination predetermined, in advance of game play, by the present invention;

FIG. 4 of the drawings is a top plan view of the tab side of yet another player card or ticket, showing, in particular, the repositioning of a pull tab to reveal instant winning game symbols;

FIG. 5 of the drawings is a top plan view of the payout side of a player card or ticket;

FIG. 6 of the drawings is a top plan view of a pull tab type of master game card, showing, in particular, the initial concealment of the community game symbols, or community card symbols and winner verification symbols; and

FIG. 7 of the drawings is a top plan view of the master game card of FIG. 6, showing, in particular, the repositioning of the flap-like members to reveal the community card symbols and winner verification symbols positioned underneath.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail, several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present gaming system is shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 as comprising a plurality of player cards or tickets 10 and a master game card 30. As will be described in detail, while the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 simulate a game of Texas Hold 'Em poker, other conventional casino card games wherein a winning hand is determined by selecting among cards dealt both to individual players, as well as shared, or community cards, may also be simulated in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the tab side of a player card or ticket is shown. In a preferred embodiment, player card or ticket 10 comprises a lamination of an upper ply 11 (FIG. 1), and a lower ply 14 (FIG. 2) of suitable, opaque material, such as heavy paper stock or cardboard. Upper ply 11 includes a pull tab region 13, which is frangibly removable, as well as frangibly repositionable, relative to the remainder of upper ply 11, as afforded by the presence of perforations 12, substantially surrounding pull tab 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, pull tab 13 may be repositioned from its initial concealing position as shown in FIG. 1, to an open, revealing position of FIG. 2, by manually separating pull tab 13 from the remainder of upper ply 11, about three perforated edges of pull tab 13. Alternatively, pull tab 13 may be completely removed from the remainder of upper ply 11, and, in turn, player card or ticket 10. In either case, a portion of lower ply 14 becomes visible on the tab side of player card or ticket 10. As shown in FIG. 2, this visible portion of lower ply 14 includes indicia imprinted thereon which are indicative of two conventional playing cards.

In particular, FIG. 2 shows a player card or ticket having player game symbols, i.e. two hold card symbols 20 corresponding to the Ace of Hearts and Seven of Spades in a conventional deck of playing cards. These two hold card symbols correspond to the two cards, collectively known as the “hold,” which may be dealt to an individual player when playing a conventional game of Texas Hold 'Em. In addition, lower ply 14 may further include an audit symbol 16, wherein each individual player card or ticket is assigned a unique audit symbol within an overall game comprising a single master game card and a plurality of player cards or tickets. In a preferred embodiment, 756 game cards are distributed with each master game card. Also, in a preferred embodiment, four digit numeric values are used as audit symbol 16.

FIG. 3 illustrates another player card or ticket, according to the present invention, having different hold card symbols 20 corresponding to the Ten of Diamonds and Jack of Diamonds in a conventional deck of playing cards. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, a different audit symbol 16 is employed, as compared to the audit symbol of FIG. 2. Additional indicia 15 may optionally be included to further identify that hold card symbols 20 of FIG. 3 comprise the “hold” portion of the conventional casino card game.

A player card or ticket having indicia indicating that the particular player card or ticket is an instant winning game card is shown in FIG. 4. The repositioning of pull tab 13 reveals a portion of lower ply 14 having two symbols 21, each indicative of a Joker in a conventional deck of playing cards. Additional indicia 22 serves to indicate that the holder of the instant winning game card is entitled to an award of ten additional player cards or tickets, for use in the present simulated casino card game. Although, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, indicia indicative of two Jokers is employed, other means of indicating that a player card or ticket is an instant winning card may also be employed, such as, for example, indicia including the words “instant winner,” or through the use of a single game symbol indicative of a Joker in a conventional deck of playing cards, or by other means of indication. Moreover, although, in the illustrated embodiment, the instant winner is awarded additional player cards or tickets, alternative awards, such as cash or other prizes, are also contemplated.

The payout side of player card or ticket 10 is shown in FIG. 5 as having various indicia imprinted upon an opposite side of lower ply 14, relative to the side having hold card symbols imprinted thereon, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. These indicia include descriptive information 22 identifying the award given to the holder of the winning player card or ticket, together with a brief description of a portion of the rules of the conventional casino card game being simulated. Additional indicia 23 indicate that, in addition to a single winning card being awarded the overall prize, three game cards will be instant winning game cards, as depicted in FIG. 4. Indicia 23 also identifies that, in the illustrated embodiment, the holder of each instant winning player card or ticket is awarded ten additional playing cards, or tickets, and that each instant winning game card is identified by symbols corresponding to two Jokers in a conventional deck of playing cards. Alternatively, other instant winning indicia may be utilized. Additional indicia 21 indicate the suggested purchase price for each player card or ticket 10. As shown in FIG. 5, a region 24 of the payout side of player card or ticket 10 is provided to allow a game title to be imprinted upon the player card or ticket 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the master game card comprises a lamination of an upper ply and a lower ply of suitable, opaque material, such as heavy paper stock or cardboard. Master game card 30, in its initial state and as typically distributed to game operators, is shown in FIG. 6 as including a plurality of symbols 34, imprinted upon an upper ply 37 and each indicative of the back, or decorative side of an individual playing card from a conventional deck of playing cards. As shown in FIG. 6, each such symbol 34 is sequentially numbered, left to right, providing a visual clue to the game operator as to the order in which flap-like members 35 will be opened. Each flap-like member 35 encompasses a portion of an associated playing card back side symbol 34 and is repositionable relative to the remainder of upper ply 37, as perforations 36 are provided on three sides of each flap-like member.

Moreover, each symbol 34, and, in turn, each associated flap-like member 35, is associated with a community playing area, corresponding to a community segment, or a subset of the overall collection of community cards associated with the conventional casino card game being simulated. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, three playing card back side symbols 34 numbered “1,” “2” and “3” are collectively associated with the “flop” community segment, or community playing area. The playing card back side symbol 34 numbered “4” is associated with a “turn” community playing area, and the playing card back side symbol 34 numbered “5” is associated with a “river” community playing area.

As shown in FIG. 6, master game card 30 further includes indicia 50 instructing the game operator of the proper method of opening the seals, or flap-like members 35. Additionally indicia 51 provides the operator and game players with an indication of the prize awarded the overall winning game ticket, while indicia 52 provides an explanation of a portion of the predetermined rules of the casino card game being simulated. Indicia 53 indicates that, in a preferred embodiment, three of the player cards or tickets to be distributed in association with the present lottery-type game system are instant winning game tickets, identified by the presence of two Jokers on the instant winning tickets, and wherein each instant winner is awarded ten additional tickets, or player cards. For record keeping purposes, indicia 55 permits the game operator to identify the “date in,” or date upon which game play began, the “date out,” or date upon which game play was completed, and provides for the game operator to sign the master game card 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, master game card 30 preferably further includes an additional flap-like member 40, surrounded by perforations 41 on three sides and thus repositionable relative to the remainder of upper ply 37. As indicated by associated indicia 42, the opening or repositioning of flap-like member 40 will reveal further indicia, verifying the accuracy of a purported winning game card.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, master game card 30 further includes indicia 54, indicating the suggested purchase price of each individual player card or ticket, as well as a region 56, allowing a game title to be imprinted upon upper ply 37 of master game card 30.

The master game card 30 of FIG. 6 is again shown in FIG. 7, with each flap-like member 35 and 40 repositioned to reveal associated portions of lower ply 57, having community game symbols, i.e. community card symbols 20, and winning game symbols 41 imprinted thereon and also revealed. In the example master game card 30 of FIG. 7, the flop community segment, or community playing area includes a community card symbol 20 indicative of a Queen of Spades in a conventional deck of playing cards, a community card symbol indicative of a Queen of Diamonds, and a community card symbol indicative of a King of Spades. The turn community playing area contains a community card symbol 20 indicative of a King of Diamonds, and the river community playing area contains a community card symbol indicative of an Ace of Diamonds.

The repositioning of flap-like member 40 reveals indicia imprinted upon lower ply 57 of master game card 10, indicative of the winning player card or ticket. As shown in FIG. 7, the winning player card or ticket contains indicia 41 indicative of a Ten of Diamonds and a Jack of Diamonds as the “hold” portion of the overall poker hand, as indicated by indicia 15. The use of the instruction “hold” on the player ticket or card is at the discretion of the manufacturer. Moreover, audit symbol indicium 16 may be imprinted upon a valid player card or ticket to verify the authenticity of the player card or ticket.

Multiple modes of playing, or operating the present invention are contemplated. In a first mode of play, all of the player cards or tickets, which are printed in association with a master game card and collectively with the master game card form a complete game set, are required to be sold or otherwise distributed to players before the master game card is operated. In this mode of operation, the entirety of the outcome of the casino playing card game, with the exception of the identity of the holder of the winning player card or ticket, is predetermined. In particular, not only are all of the community card symbols predetermined in advance and preprinted on the master game card, the particular winning player card or ticket, whose associated hold card symbols form the best poker hand when considered in combination with the community card symbols of the master game card, is also preprinted and predetermined in advance.

In a second mode of play, all of the player card or symbols of a particular game set need not be sold or otherwise distributed in advance. In this mode of operation, while the community card symbols are predetermined, the winning player card or ticket, as well as the result, or value of the winning, best hand combining hold card symbols from the winning player card or ticket and community card symbols from the master game card, is not predetermined. Instead, this best hand depends upon the values of the hold card symbols contained within the subset of player cards or tickets which are distributed from among the complete set available for distribution within the overall game set.

In operation, master game card 30 is maintained in its initial, concealing state of FIG. 6 until all (in the first mode of game play) or a subset (in the second mode of game play) of the individual player cards or tickets have been sold or distributed. Next, the game operator will sequentially open the flap-like members 35 from left to right, one community playing area at a time, across master game card 30, revealing the community card symbols 20 underneath each flap-like member. First, the three seals, or flap-like members 35 associated with flop playing area 31 are opened, and the holders of the player cards or tickets are given the opportunity to view the associated community card symbols 20 which are revealed, in conjunction with the two hold card symbols of their individual player cards or tickets. Next, the flap-like member associated with turn playing area 32 is opened, revealing the community card symbol 20 associated therewith. Again, each player is given an opportunity to consider their best current combined hand. The flap-like member associated with river playing area 33 is finally opened, revealing the final community card symbol 20. Once all of the community card symbols 20 are revealed, the holders of each player card or ticket are given an opportunity to determine the best five-card poker hand, constructed by selecting five cards from the seven-card combination of the two hold card symbols revealed within their player card or ticket, taken in combination with the five community card symbols revealed on master game card 30, in accordance with the rules of Texas Hold 'Em.

In the first mode of game play, the player card or ticket forming the best five-card poker hand, in selective combination with the revealed community cards, is predetermined. In the second mode of game play, actual comparison of such best five-card poker hands corresponding to each distributed player card or ticket is necessary in order to determine the holder of the winning game card.

To aid in determining the overall winning game card in the first mode of play, repositionable flap-like member 40 is moved from the concealing position of FIG. 6 to the revealing position of FIG. 7, identifying the hold card symbols 41 displayed upon the winning card, as well as the audit symbol 16 which will also be displayed upon the winning player card or ticket. In the example of FIG. 7, the winning player card or ticket forms a royal flush, comprising the Ace through Ten of Diamonds, by combining the two hold card symbols present on the winning player card or ticket with three of the five available community card symbols. This winning card, distributed in conjunction with an overall game set including the master game card of FIG. 7, is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to having the same winning hold card symbols 20 as those identified on the master game card, the winning player card or ticket of FIG. 3 also includes an audit symbol 16 which matches the audit symbol 16 displayed on the master game card.

Although the foregoing description has been directed to an embodiment of the present invention which simulates a conventional game of Texas Hold 'Em, other simulations of card games which include a combination of hold cards and shared community cards are also contemplated. In another embodiment contemplated by the present invention, the conventional casino card game of Omaha Hold 'Em is simulated by the lottery-type game. In this embodiment, each of the plurality of player cards or tickets distributed to the individual players includes four hold card symbols, rather than the two hold card symbols of a simulated game of Texas Hold 'Em. The flop community playing area of the master game card again includes three community card symbols, the turn community playing area of the master game card again includes one playing card symbol, and the river playing area of the master game card again includes a single community card symbol. Game play proceeds in a manner similar to that described above. In accordance with the rules of the conventional casino card game Omaha Hold 'Em, a winning game hand is determined as the best hand comprising two hold card symbols, selected from among the four hold card symbols on a player card or ticket, together with any three community card symbols, taken from the five community card symbols revealed upon the master game card.

Another conventional casino card game which may be simulated by an embodiment of the present invention is Seven Card Stud Poker. In this embodiment, each player card or ticket includes three hold card symbols, each indicative of a playing card in a conventional deck of cards. All of these hold card symbols may be initially concealed on the player card or ticket or, in a strict interpretation of the rules of Seven Card Stud, one hold card symbol may always be visible. The master game card includes four community playing areas, each having a single associated community card symbol. These community playing areas are named, respectively, 4^(th) Street, 5^(th) Street, 6^(th) Street, and 7^(th) Street. As in the previously-described simulated games, once all player cards or tickets are distributed, seals, or flap-like members, concealing the community card symbols are opened in sequential order, one community playing area at a time, and in accordance with the rules of the simulated conventional casino game. In the case of Seven Card Stud Poker, the best hand is determined as being the best combination of five cards, according to conventional poker rules, selected from the seven cards comprising the three hold card symbols of the player card or ticket, taken in combination with the four community card symbols of the master game card.

As is known, under the rules of poker as applied to determining the winning game hands of each of the foregoing games, a royal flush, comprising an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, all in the same suit, is the highest possible winning hand; followed by a straight flush, or a combination of five sequential cards of the same suit other than an Ace through Ten; followed by four of a kind; followed by a full house, or a combination of three of a kind and a pair; followed by a flush, or five cards of the same suit; followed by a straight, or five sequential cards, other than of the same suit; followed by three of a kind; followed by two pairs; followed by one pair; followed by the highest valued card in a no pair hand.

As can be seen, the present invention is capable of simulating any conventional community card game, wherein winning hands are determined from a combination of hold cards, dealt to individual players, in combination with shared or community cards. Moreover, variations on these games, such as “High-Low” games, in which both the best and worst hands created by combining the hold and community cards are deemed to be winning hands, may also be simulated. To simulate a particular game, the rules for the game being simulated must first be predetermined, and known to the game operator, and, preferably, the players. The number of hold card symbols imprinted upon each player card or ticket will match the number of individual cards dealt to each player, according to the predetermined rules of the particular game being simulated. Moreover, flap-like members or other concealment structures, together with associated indicia will be arranged on a master game card, such that the number of overall community card symbols, as well as the arrangement of community card symbols into community playing areas, is in accordance with the particular casino card game being simulated. Moreover, the ordering of the community playing areas upon the master game card, and the associated order in which the corresponding flap-like members are opened by the operator to reveal the community game symbols underneath, are also determined in accordance with the particular casino card game under simulation.

Although, in the illustrated embodiment above and as shown in FIGS. 6-7, each individual community card symbol has its own associated concealing seal, or flap-like member, other concealing arrangements are also contemplated. For example, in the case of a simulated game of Texas Hold 'Em, a single, larger concealment structure may be employed to conceal all three community card symbols within the flop community area. If, for example, this concealing structure is a larger, single flap-like member as opposed to disparate flaps for each symbol, movement of the flap-like member from an initial, concealing position to a subsequent, revealing position, will simultaneously reveal all three community card symbols within the flop region.

Moreover, although flap-like members are illustrated as the concealment structure for the master game card, other concealing structures are also contemplated. For example, a completely removable portion of a two ply laminated structure can be used, rather than a repositionable structure. Alternatively, a single ply construction may be used for the master game card, and the concealment structure may comprise peelable stickers applied to the surface of the game card, so as to initially conceal the community symbols underneath. Moreover, a scratch-off material may be applied to a single-ply master game card, concealing each community game symbol until the scratch-off material is removed.

Similarly, alternative concealment structures may also be used for initially concealing the playing card symbols of the individual player cards or tickets. Again, a single-ply construction, rather than the illustrated two-ply construction may be used for these cards with peelable stickers, scratch-off material, or other concealment mechanisms employed to initially conceal the playing card symbols.

Moreover, although, in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, a single master game card is shown, multiple master game cards may alternatively be used. For example, The flop, turn, and river community playing areas may each reside on a separate master game card, with each of three master game cards being used sequentially as each community segment of the overall simulated card game is revealed.

While the foregoing embodiments of the present invention describe a lottery-type gaming system which simulates conventional casino playing card games, other casino games may also be simulated, using game symbols other than symbols indicative of playing cards. For example, a conventional casino slot machine may also be simulated in accordance with the present invention.

A conventional casino slot machine typically includes three or more reels, each having a plurality of game symbols, such as bars, cherries and the numeral seven, displayed on the outer surface of each reel. Prior to beginning game play, a player typically deposits one or more coins, bills, tokens or other equivalent substitutes for currency into the slot machine. The player then begins game play, typically by pulling a handle of the slot machine. Once the handle is pulled, the reels, each containing a plurality of game symbols, are spun in motion. In a traditional slot machine, physical reels are mechanically set in motion, In many modern machines, these physical reels are replaced by simulated reels on a computer-controlled graphics display. In either event, the physical or computer-generated reels eventually slow, and then stop in sequence left to right, and a randomly or pseudo-randomly generated resultant sequence of game symbols is finally displayed.

Each slot machine has a predetermined hierarchy of winning combinations of game symbols. In the example of a three reel slot machine, the highest winning combination of game symbols, yielding the highest payout from the machine, is traditionally three sevens. The next highest winning combination, with the next highest payout value, is typically three bar symbols. The lowest winning combination of game symbols, with the lowest payout value, is traditionally three cherry symbols.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the game play of casino games, such as slot machines, which typically employ game symbols other than those from a deck of conventional playing cards, is simulated in the environment of a combination of shared and individual game symbols. In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the player cards or tickets that is distributed includes a single game symbol, in this case a slot machine symbol, such as the numeral seven, a bar symbol, or a cherry symbol, displayed thereon. Additional indicia, such as “reel one”, may be employed on the player card or ticket to indicate that the first reel of a slot machine is simulated on the player card or ticket. A concealment structure, such as a pull tab, initially conceals the slot machine game symbol. The master game card includes two community segments. The first community segment comprises a single, slot machine game symbol, shared among all of the game players and initially concealed by an associated concealment structure. This community segment may be labeled, for example, “reel two”. Likewise, the second community segment comprises another single slot machine game symbol, also shared among all of the game players and also initially concealed by an associated concealment structure. This community segment may be labeled, for example, “reel three”.

In the operation of this embodiment, the player cards or tickets are distributed to the game players. Each game player typically operates the “reel one” concealment structure of their player cards or tickets, to reveal the slot machine game symbol on each card. Next, the game operator reveals the slot machine symbol within the first, “reel two” community segment. Finally, the game operator reveals the slot machine symbol within the second, “reel three” community segment. In this manner, the sequential slowing and stopping of the motion of the reels of a conventional slot machine is simulated by the sequential revelation of the slot machine game symbols on the player card or ticket and the master game card. The winning game card, comprising the player card or ticket having a slot machine game symbol which, in combination with the slot machine game symbols of the master game card, is then determined.

While the forgoing embodiment simulating the play of a conventional casino slot machine includes only one game symbol on the player card or ticket, an alternative embodiment is also contemplated, wherein a three reel slot machine is simulated using player cards or tickets having two slot machine game symbols displayed thereon, simulating reels one and two, and with a third and final, shared slot machine game symbol associated with a single “reel three” community segment on the master game card. Moreover, it is also contemplated that slot machines employing additional and/or different game symbols, as well as slot machines with more than three reels, may also be simulated by an embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited as those skilled in the art having the present disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention. 

1. A lottery-type gaming system simulating a conventional casino game having predetermined rules of play, comprising: a plurality of player cards, each of the player cards including at least one player game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game; and one or more master game cards for use in conjunction with the plurality of playing cards, at least one of the master game cards including at least one community game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game; whereby the player card having the best combination of at least one of its player game symbols when taken together with at least one of the community game symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino game, is determined to be a winning player card.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein: the conventional casino game comprises a conventional casino card game wherein a winning hand is determined by combining a value of at least one hold card dealt to an individual player with a value of at least one community card shared among a plurality of such individual players; at least one of the player game symbols comprises a hold card symbol indicative of a hold card in the conventional casino card game; and at least one of the community card symbols comprises a community card symbol indicative of a community card in the conventional casino card game; whereby the player card having the best combination of at least one of its hold card symbols, forming a complete game hand when taken together with at least one of the community card symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino card game, is determined to be a winning player card.
 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the one or more master game cards includes a plurality of community card symbols, each of the community card symbols being a unique symbol, relative to the other community card symbols.
 4. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the one or more master game cards further includes a plurality of community playing areas, each community playing area being associated with at least one community card symbol and being associated with a round of play in the conventional casino card game.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the community playing areas is associated with a plurality of community card symbols.
 6. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of community playing areas includes a flop playing area, a turn playing area, and a river playing area, in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino card game.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein: the player card includes two hold card symbols; the flop playing area is associated with three community card symbols; the turn playing area is associated with one community card symbol; the river playing area is associated with one community card symbol; and the simulated conventional casino card game is Texas Hold'em.
 8. The invention according to claim 6 wherein: the player card includes four hold card symbols; the flop playing area is associated with three community card symbols; the turn playing area is associated with one community card symbol; the river playing area is associated with one community card symbol; and the simulated conventional casino card game is Omaha Hold'em.
 9. The invention according to claim 4 wherein: the playing card includes three hold card symbols; the plurality of community playing areas comprises four community playing areas, each associated with one different community card symbol; and the simulated conventional casino card game is Seven Card Stud.
 10. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the simulated conventional casino game is a slot machine.
 11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein the slot machine is a three reel slot machine.
 12. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the at least one player game symbol comprises a slot machine symbol, and the at least one community game symbol comprises two slot machine symbols.
 13. The invention according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more master game cards further includes at least one concealment structure initially concealing at least one associated community game symbol.
 14. The invention according to claim 13 wherein the concealment structure includes a repositionable flap-like member.
 15. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the player card further includes at least one concealment structure initially concealing at least one associated game symbol.
 16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein: the player card comprises a first ply of material operably attached to a second ply of material; the concealment structure comprises at least one frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material; and at least one game symbol is revealed when the at least one frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material is removed.
 17. The invention according to claim 16 wherein two game symbols are revealed when the frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material is removed.
 18. The invention according to claim 16 wherein: the player card comprises a first ply of material operably attached to a second ply of material; the concealment structure comprises at least one frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material; and at least one game symbol is revealed when the at least one frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material is moved from a first, concealing position to a second, revealing position.
 19. The invention according to claim 18 wherein two game symbols are revealed when the frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material is moved from the concealing position to the revealing position.
 20. The invention according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the one or more master game cards further includes indicia indicative of a game symbol on the winning player card to facilitate verifying the identity of the winning player card.
 21. The invention according to claim 20 wherein at least one of the one or more master game cards further includes at least one concealment structure initially concealing the indicia indicative of the game symbol on the winning player card.
 22. The invention according to claim 21 wherein the concealment structure includes a repositionable flap-like member.
 23. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the one or more master game cards comprises a single master game card.
 24. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising at least one instant winning game card.
 25. A method of simulating a conventional casino game having predetermined rules of play, comprising: providing a plurality of player cards, each of the player cards including at least one player game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino card game; providing one or more master game cards for use in conjunction with the plurality of player cards, at least one master game card including at least one community game symbol indicative of a game symbol in the conventional casino game; distributing at least a portion of the player cards to a plurality of individual players; and determining the distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its player game symbols when taken together with at least one of the community game symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino game to be a winning playing card.
 26. The invention according to claim 25, wherein: the conventional casino game comprises a conventional casino card game wherein a winning hand is determined by combining a value of at least one hold card dealt to an individual player with at least one community card shared among a plurality of such individual players; at least one of the player game symbols comprises a hold card symbol indicative of a hold card in the conventional casino card game; at least one of the community game symbols comprises a community card symbol indicative of a community card in the conventional casino card game; and the step of determining comprises the step of determining the distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its hold card symbols, forming a complete game hand when taken together with at least one of the community card symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino card game, to be a winning player card.
 27. The invention according to claim 26, wherein: the one or more master game cards includes at least two community card symbols indicative of community cards in the conventional casino game, at least two community playing areas, each of the community playing areas being associated with at least one community card symbol and being associated with a round of play in the conventional casino game, and at least one concealment structure associated with at least one community playing area and initially concealing the community card symbols associated therewith; the step of determining is preceded by the step of sequentially revealing the community card symbols of each community playing area in an order specified by the rules of the play of the conventional casino card game; and the step of determining comprises the step of determining the distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its hold card symbols, forming a complete game hand when taken together with at least one of the community card symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino card game, to be a winning playing card.
 28. The invention according to claim 25 wherein the step of distributing at least a portion of the player cards comprises distributing only a portion of the player cards.
 29. The invention according to claim 25, wherein the step of distributing at least a portion of the player cards comprises distributing all of the player cards, and wherein the distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its hold card symbols is predetermined.
 30. The invention according to claim 27 wherein at least one of the community playing areas is associated with a plurality of community card symbols.
 31. The invention according to claim 27, wherein the at least two community playing areas includes a flop playing area, a turn playing area, and a river playing area, in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino game.
 32. The invention according to claim 31 wherein: the player card includes two hold card symbols; the flop playing area is associated with three community card symbols; the turn playing area is associated with one community card symbol; the river playing area is associated with one community card symbol; and the simulated conventional casino card game is Texas Hold'em.
 33. The invention according to claim 31 wherein: the player card includes four hold card symbols; the flop playing area is associated with three community card symbols; the turn playing area is associated with one community card symbol; the river playing area is associated with one community card symbol; and the simulated conventional casino card game is Omaha Hold'em.
 34. The invention according to claim 27 wherein: the playing card includes three hold card symbols; the at least two community playing areas comprises four community playing areas, each associated with one different community card symbol; and the simulated conventional casino card game is Seven Card Stud.
 35. The invention according to claim 25 wherein: the simulated conventional casino game is a slot machine; at least one of the player game symbols comprises a game symbol indicative of a slot machine symbol in the conventional casino slot machine game; at least one of the community game symbols comprises a game symbol indicative of a slot machine symbol in the conventional casino slot machine game; and the step of determining comprises the step of determining the distributed player card that has the best combination of at least one of its player game symbols, forming a complete round of slot machine play when taken together with at least one of the community game symbols and in accordance with the rules of play of the conventional casino slot machine game, to be a winning player card.
 36. The invention according to claim 35 wherein the slot machine is a three reel slot machine.
 37. The invention according to claim 35, wherein the at least one player game symbol comprises one slot machine symbol, and the at least one community game symbol comprises two slot machine symbols.
 38. The invention according to claim 26 wherein at least one of the one or more master game cards further includes at least one concealment structure initially concealing at least one associated community card symbol.
 39. The invention according to claim 38 wherein the concealment structure includes a repositionable flap-like member.
 40. The invention according to claim 25 wherein the player card further includes at least one concealment structure initially concealing at least one associated game symbol.
 41. The invention according to claim 40 wherein: the player card comprises a first ply of material operably attached to a second ply of material; the concealment structure comprises at least one frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material; and at least one game symbol is revealed when the frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material is removed.
 42. The invention according to claim 41 wherein two game symbols are revealed when the frangibly removable portion of the second ply of material is removed.
 43. The invention according to claim 41 wherein: the player card comprises a first ply of material operably attached to a second ply of material; the concealment structure comprises at least one frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material; and at least one game symbol is revealed when the frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material is moved from a first, concealing position to a second, revealing position.
 44. The invention according to claim 43 wherein two game symbols are revealed when the frangibly movable portion of the second ply of material is moved from the concealing position to the revealing position.
 45. The invention according to claim 25 wherein at least one of the one or more master game cards further includes indicia indicative of a game symbol on the winning player card to facilitate verifying the identity of the winning player card.
 46. The invention according to claim 45 wherein at least one of the one or more master game cards further includes at least one concealment structure initially concealing the indicia indicative of the game symbol on the winning player card.
 47. The invention according to claim 46 wherein the concealment structure includes a repositionable flap-like member.
 48. The invention according to claim 25 wherein the one or more master game cards comprises a single master game card.
 49. The invention according to claim 25, further comprising the step of providing at least one instant winning game card. 